Dietary supplements are any products that people add into their diets aside from food. The food and drug administration (FDA) says these supplements can be vitamins, minerals, herbs and amino acids. They also can be in the form of pills, liquids, powders or energy bars.

When you go to the doctor, one of the first question asked is what medications you are taking. Dietary supplements should always be included as well as prescribed medications. Why?

Dietary supplements may interfere with the effectiveness of prescribed medicine. Also, the FDA does not approve the safety of dietary supplements before they are sold. Manufacturing firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure they meet all the requirements of 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act and FDA regulations.

Should a problem arise, the FDA is responsible for acting against any adulterated or misbranded dietary supplement product after it reaches the market.

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The FDA will ask for a recall or issues a public warning and posts the recall on the website www.fda.gov.

The FDA advises us to be aware of false claims. “If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.” Here is an example of a false claim, “Extremely beneficial in treatment of rheumatism, arthritis, infections prostate problem, ulcers, cancer, heart trouble, hardening of the arteries, and more.”

Check out all supplements before you decide to use. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/list-all/ gives us all the recent research on dietary supplements.

Will the supplement interfere with your doctor’s recommendations to treat a current physical and mental alignment?

Is the dosage above the amount that you need each day?

Does the cost prohibit you from purchasing your daily needs for a variety of food or prescribed medications?

Ask yourself these questions before purchasing any supplements. Take the time to do your homework. Visit both the FDA and the the NIH dietary supplement websites to look up the dietary supplement.

For example, the B-vitamin biotin. B vitamins help to turn carbohydrates into energy. The NIH website tells us that we can get biotin from seeds, nuts, sweet potatoes, spinach, broccoli, meat fish and eggs. Most people get enough from the food they eat.

Biotin is the nutrient promoted to improve the health of hair, skin and nails. But there is little scientific evidence to support claims that biotin supplements will improve the health of your hair, skin and nails, according to the NIH.

Check out the consumer fact sheet on biotin to learn more about the supplement. Learn more about the supplements you are taking or thinking of taking.

Next time you get the grill out, grill sweet potatoes for a food source of biotin. We usually think of eating sweet potatoes only at Thanksgiving, but they are available year-round. Try this recipe the next time you grill. Enjoy!

Grilled Sweet Potatoes

Wash and peel sweet potatoes, one per person

Slice ½ inch thick

Brush one side with oil and seasonings (your choice, see below)

Place brushed side down on the grill

Grill 3 – 4 minutes, then flip

Brush opposite side

Grill until desired tenderness

Total grill time ranges between 5- 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Seasonings- 5- spice powder, cinnamon, cloves, dry mustard, Italian seasoning, oregano, paprika, poppy seeds, rosemary, sesame seed, tarragon

Nutrition Corner Mary Ehret
https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_Ehret.CMYK_-3.jpg.optimal.jpgNutrition Corner Mary Ehret

Mary R. Ehret, M.S.,R.D.,L.D.N., is the Nutrition Links Supervisor in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Carbon, Schuylkill, Sullivan and Bradford Counties for the Penn State Extension.